Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
David Lynch is without a doubt my favourite director of all time, there is just something about the man and his works that hit on a level like no other. I always go back and explore his films, the strange worlds he creates and the incredibly messed up characters. Perhaps the most memorable of those characters are the females, all as different as the next, with such haunting qualities about them. So for this week I thought I would delve right into that world …
5.) Renee Madison/Alice Wakefield (Patricia Arquette) Lost Highway (1997)
Lost Highway is an odd film, yes that isn’t saying much coming from Lynch. This feels darker than some of his others, and certainly not an easy one to sit through. Perhaps the most haunting thing about this film is the dual role from Patricia Arquette as Renee and Alice. This might just be her best performance, and without it the film wouldn’t be the same.
4.) Nikki Grace/Susan Blue (Laura Dern) Inland Empire (2006)
Another dual role, from Lynch’s muse Laura Dern. This could be her crowning achievement, as the struggling older actress and the character she is meant to be playing. The lines between reality and fantasy are blurred in this nightmarish world. This film stuck with me for a long time after I saw it, mostly thanks to this performance and the characters she played.
3.) Betty Elms/Diane Selwyn (Naomi Watts) Mulholland Dr. (2001)
The duality of this role doesn’t come into play well over half way through, and for a lot of the film we’re with Betty. She’s this innocent and gorgeous creature, but then she turns into something completely different. This is the role that really put Naomi Watts on the Hollywood map, with two characters that are incredibly heartbreaking and haunting.
2.) Laura Palmer (Sheryl Lee) Twin Peaks (1990), Fire Walk With Me (1992)
“She’s dead, wrapped in plastic.” it was these haunting words that began one of the strangest TV series of the past 40 years. Laura Palmer was at the center of it all, who was she and why would someone kill such a beautiful creature? The mystery kept audiences guessing, and when the show came to an abrupt end, her story was told in the prequel film and her full tragedy and heartache was revealed.
1.) Dorothy Vallens (Isabella Rossellini) Blue Velvet (1986)
For those that know me, this one will come as no surprise. Blue Velvet is in my Top 5 Favourite Films of All Time list, and Dorothy Vallens certainly remains one of the most memorable characters to appear on film (next to Dennis Hopper’s Frank Booth). Her character is a mystery, a beauty, full of heartbreak and tragedy. She’s a tortured soul, with something about her that just attracts people towards her, she’s the ultimate haunting Lynch female character.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
With my column over at Arrow In The Head ‘Dissecting The Director’ I get to spent a lot of time watching a director’s entire filmography. A good number of them have done Stephen King adaptations, and while they tend to have this reputation as being bad, I actually discovered that there are quite a few hidden gems. I have probably seen a majority of these adaptations, so here are my picks for ones that aren’t bad, but are quite good and enjoyable films …
5.) THE DARK HALF (1993)
This is a really solid film, and I really liked the pairing of George Romero and Stephen King. This is criminally under seen, it is well written, directed and acted, it has an interesting atmosphere and a great mystery. Timothy Hutton gives an amazing performance, if you can find it, I’d highly recommend it.
4.) DOLORES CLAIBORNE (1995)
This is another under seen gem, and one I discovered on VHS. I picked it up because it starred Jennifer Jason Leigh and Katy Bates, I wasn’t aware it was based on something by Stephen King until I started watching it. It moved me deeply when I first saw it, and I often think back to it now. A powerful film, with some truly amazing performances.
3.) THINNER (1996)
This is a film I have a blast with, it is actually a lot of fun! I really enjoy the premise and the message behind it, plus the performance by Robert John Burke is really solid and he managed to make something so silly really work. A good little gem, and under rated in my opinion.
2.) GRAVEYARD SHIFT (1990)
I ended up watching this film due to the Blood, Bullet’s and Broads boys Ammon and Eric constantly talking about it. It wasn’t a let down, I had such a blast with this film, it was fun, it had a neat story and I enjoyed every second of it. The premise is a little on the thin side but with a short running time you hardly notice.
1.) HEARTS IN ATLANTIS (2001)
From the first moment I saw this, to the subsequent rewatches, I really fell in love with it. It is such an intriguing film, and something quite different from what you’d expect from a King adaptation. Anthony Hopkins was fantastic, and this was one of his lighter performances, he didn’t chew the scenery. Also this was one of Anton Yelchin’s first film roles, and it was obvious from this that he was going to grow up to be something special.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
While I have been recovering from some injuries, I’ve been watching some martial arts films. This got me thinking, what are five random martial arts films I’d recommend? Especially to people who may not be that familiar with genre, I’ve come up the following …
5.) THE KING OF THE KICKBOXERS (1990)
This is such a great film, it is a lot of fun to watch and by golly does it have some of the best martial arts you’ll see. The choreography is amazing, the final battle between my pal Loren Avedon and Billy Blanks is one for the books. I’ve seen this countless times, a great ride!
4.) WHEELS ON MEALS (1984)
A little gem from the year of my birth, this was directed by the absolutely fantastic Sammo Hung, who also stars with Jackie Chan and Yuen Biao. Memorable for Keith Vitali and of course the fantastic fight scene with Benny Urquidez which you can see above.
3.) UNDISPUTED II: LAST MAN STANDING
If you know me, you know I worship this film! I love everything about it, Michael Jai White and Scott Adkins light up the screen! The choreography is amazing, of course done by the man J.J. Perry! It looks fantastic and it is fantastically shot and directed by Isaac Florentine!
2.) REVENGE OF THE NINJA (1983)
I wasn’t going to have a martial arts list without the legendary Shô Kosugi! He is simply outstanding and I just love watching him do his thing. While Revenge Of The Ninja might be an odd film, the martial arts on display are top notch and well worth watching. Also another film featuring Keith Vitali!
1.) THE WAY OF THE DRAGON – MENG LONG GUO JIANG (1972)
I am sure it was expected I’d place Bruce Lee’s most famous film Enter The Dragon on the list, but I decided to pick another film of his. Perhaps this is best remembered for the legendary show down between Bruce and one Chuck Norris, but the film itself is a great ride and yet another reason why Bruce was such an amazing man.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
For research with my bi-weekly Dissecting The Director column over at Arrow In The Head, I decided to re-watch and seek out a bunch of film/horror related documentaries. This led to me watching a bunch of doco’s in general, but for this weeks Super Five I decided to focus on the the horror related ones. There are a lot of fluff pieces out there when it comes to the genre, but the following five are ones I found actually delved into the subject and weren’t afraid to get down and dirty with it. Highly recommended for fans and non-fans alike.
5.) FLESH AND BLOOD: THE HAMMER HERITAGE OF HORROR (1994)
I am a bit of a noob when it comes to Hammer Horror, and this is something I want to change. Keep your eyes peeled on the site for a new feature, but back to business, I was curious about Hammer and this film came recommended to me by A.J. Hakari a good friend and podcast guest. I trust his recommendations when it comes to matters such as these, and he wasn’t wrong. Sure this is an old documentary but they do cover a lot of ground, from its inception to its last days, it goes over everything you need to know about Hammer. It is thorough, narrated by Christopher Lee with a lot of great and entertaining interviews, I especially liked the Peter Cushing stuff. New to Hammer or if you are a seasoned veteran of their films, this is a great watch.
4.) AMERICAN GRINDHOUSE (2010)
Now this one covers more than just horror, but a majority of it falls into the category. American Grindhouse is about films that I really enjoy, exploitation pieces. I can’t really explain my love for them, but this film kind of shows why and it really takes a look at its long history and development over the years. The interviews are great, the films covered are very much worthy and they go over so many sub-genres and ones you might not have even thought of. Its fun, its informative, it is great for Grindhouse/Exploitation fans and a good place to start if you are keen to get into them.
3.) NIGHTMARES IN RED, WHITE AND BLUE: THE EVOLUTION OF THE AMERICAN HORROR FILM (2009)
This is a fun film, narrated by Lance Henriksen, this goes through the history of horror in America. From the early days with Universal horror, to the likes of Night Of The Living Dead and Halloween it goes over all the fazes and crazes, the films that made an impact and the ones that didn’t quite get there. It shows a lot of interesting things, talks to some great names and really gives the audience a love and understanding of the genre. This is more for people who might not be too familiar with the genre as a whole but fans will get a lot out of it as well.
2.) GOING TO PIECES: THE RISE AND FALL OF THE SLASHER FILM (2006)
I absolutely love this doco, the slasher sub-genre is where I really first took notice of horror and it was films like Scream, Halloween, A Nightmare On Elm Street that really got my juices flowing as young kid. I owe a lot to these films, they really shaped who I am as a horror fiend. This is so informative, the interviews are very frank and everyone is open about the subjects. I really loved the censorship stuff, and Felissa Rose really gets a great point across and I certainly share her feelings. Could not have asked for a better look at this sub-genre, made by fans for fans, a truly awesome piece.
1.) THE AMERICAN NIGHTMARE (2000)
My good buddy Jason Bene recommended this one, I hadn’t heard about it and I wasn’t sure what to expect. This is a fantastic piece, it really is, it takes on a different look and way of thinking with horror films. It covers the films from the likes of Romero, Carpenter, Landis, Craven, Hooper, Savini; you know the usual suspects who emerged from the 60′s and 70′s. It shows these films in light with the events that were happening at the time, and motivations behind the films were revealed. I especially found it fascinating to hear Savini talk about his time in Vietnam and how it inspired him to do what he has become famous for. If you can track this down it is well worth the ride, it is well made and expressed and there is nothing quite like it out there.
Welcome to a brand new weekly feature here at SuperMarcey.com called ‘The Super Five’. This is a different take on the ‘Top 10′ or ‘List’ style features, where I take a subject and simply name five things. It isn’t a top list, just simply five things for your enjoyment! Enjoy the debut column!
Jeremy Renner has had his stock lifted in recent years with The Hurt Locker, and he’s been working hard ever since. His supporting role in The Town gained him more recognition and he can now be seen in Mission: Impossible – Ghost Protocol. This list doesn’t include some of his more well known film, as I want to bring to light some of the films he’s been in which may have gone under the radar. He’s a talented actor and more should be checking out his earlier works.
5.) TAKE
Take is an interesting film, a depressing one but still worth a watch. Renner plays a gambling addict who we first see in prison. It is obvious something terrible put him there and the film unwinds to show us what happened. It runs parallel to a storyline involving a woman played by Minnie Driver and it becomes apparent that there is a connection between the two.
4.) NEO NED
This is a very quirky and offbeat film, which sees Renner as a Neo Nazi and in psychiatric care. He then falls for a young African American woman who believes she is Hitler. Yes that premise alone should peak interesting, it is a fun and engaging film with great performances all round.
3.) 12 AND HOLDING
This film sees Renner take a supporting role, the real stars here are the young kids whose story this is. Renner turns up in the life of one of the main kids, a 12 year old girl who gets a crush on him. He is a patient of her mothers and she tries everything she can to get his attention. His sad story is quite gripping and he has one of the best and saddest roles in the film.
2.) A LITTLE TRIP TO HEAVEN
This is a strange film, a drama/thriller which focuses on an insurance policy and a person who may or may not be dead. The main players are Julia Stiles, Forest Whitaker and Renner. For Renner this is a much different role and a little more on the darker side. There is no sympathizing with him here, and he gives one hell of a great performance.
1.) DAHMER
This might be my favourite film and performance on this list from Renner, where he plays Jeffrey Dahmer. This is perhaps one of the best low budget serial killer films. A lot of these direct to DVD efforts are pretty terrible and not at all portraying the serial killer correctly or doing any justice to the victims. This shows Dahmer in a different way, and tries to shed a little light on what made him a killer. This is a brave and powerful film with an amazing performance from Renner who really disappears into the role.
Posted by supermarcey 
